DCP files affidavit in Abu Azmi case in HC

Mumbai, Sep 5 (UNI) The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-II today submitted an affidavit in the Bombay High Court stating that the entry of Samajwadi Party Leader and Rajya Sabha member Abu Asim Azmi in Bhiwandi was banned with a view to maintaining public peace and tranquility.

A division Bench comprising Justices J N Patel and R S Dalvi were also told by DCP Ravindra Prabhakar Sengaonkar that his entry was banned to maintain communal harmony and prevent any disturbance and was not at the instance of the ruling party.

The affidavit also submitted that like Mr Azmi, even Opposition party leader Ramdas Kadam was restrained from entering the area to maintain law and order and avoid any communal disharmony as Bhiwandi was a very sensitive place.

Mr Sengaonkar also quoted an incident in the affidavit stating Mr Azmi had threatened the ACP and the Commissioner of Thane that if they arrested Salim Qureshi, a local corporator, thousands of Muslims would come out in protest.

Mr Azmi has challenged the ban on him ordered by the DCP, from entering the area of Bhiwandi upto September 9.

Mr Azmi was warned by the Senior Police Inspector of Bhiwandi, not to give any provoking speech but was allegedly accused of instigating members of the minority community there, which resulted in two policemen being brutally hacked to death on July five, during the Bhiwandi riots.

The case will come up for further hearing on September 7.

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